Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Our digest of, and commentary on today's Florida political news and punditry.


"Political ambition, partisan politics and legislative maneuvering"

"Political ambition, partisan politics and legislative maneuvering could combine to spoil plans for the state House and Senate to reach agreement on new Senate districts in a year marked by gridlock between the chambers. Senators are poised Wednesday to vote on a map redrawing 40 Senate districts, after a Tuesday session in which Sen. Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, R-Miami, amended the proposal by changing districts in Miami-Dade County to protect Hispanic-majority seats." "Senate map changes may trip up redistricting session."

See also "Senate Approves Amended Map for South Florida Senate Districts."

More: "Senate modifies redistricting map by altering Miami-Dade districts," "Support for Senate redistricting plan remains uncertain" and "Senate Changes Map amid Miami-Dade Questions.


This From the Far Right

Ed Dean: "David Jolly, Lake County Commission Flying High, Bill Nelson Not Taking Off."


Webster's last grasp

"U.S. Rep. Dan Webster, R-Fla., made a last minute pitch to become the next speaker of the U.S. House even as U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wisc. is the favorite to be selected later this week. "

With U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, announcing at the end of last month that he would step down at the end of October, Webster threw his name into the hat for another speakership bid. Earlier this year, Webster was Boehner’s main challenger, gaining 12 votes against the speaker but getting kicked off the powerful U.S. House Rules Committee after his bid failed.
"Dan Webster Readies to Take On Paul Ryan for House Speakership."


They Got Them Sum Bars

"In a court hearing three weeks before the hunt, a bear expert for Speak Up Wekiva predicted virtually every single thing that went wrong: the speedy, mass killings; the orphaned cubs; all of it. Yet state wildlife officials mocked him." "In Florida's bear hunt, emotion and agendas trumped facts."

Background:"Scrutiny, controversy led officials to halt bear hunt early." More: "Florida’s bear hunt ends, but arguments go on," "Florida’s bear hunt ends, but arguments go on" and "Wildlife officials stop bear hunt after two days."


"What's hot, crazy or shady about politics in the Sunshine State"

Marc Caputo: "Jeb v. Marco, onstage – Ben Carson’s hits FL mixed martial arts gym and… – FL redistricting drama – a DCF horror story -- RIP Juanita Evangeline Moore." "Florida Playbook."

"Marco, the ‘GOP Obama,’ & Jeb’s ‘failed playbook’ – Seminoles sue FL over gambling –Sen. Nelson to run for reelection -- Why FL closed its bear hunt." "Florida Playbook."


Sunshine Summit

"With 2016 around the corner, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) will be hosting the Sunshine Summit in Orlando from Nov. 12-Nov. 14 and the stakes will be high. The presidential hopefuls will take most of the spotlight but there’s another important race already taking shape as Rubio has said he will not run for a second Senate term. Florida Republicans Ron DeSantis, David Jolly, Carlos Lopez-Cantera and Todd Wilcox are already off and running and they will be at the Sunshine Summit trying to win support for their Senate bids." "Rick Santorum Ready to Go Back to Work at the Sunshine Summit."


"Rubio 'The GOP Obama'"

Kevin Derby: "Jeb Bush Shrewd to Paint Marco Rubio as 'GOP Obama'."

The Jebbites are calling "Rubio “a GOP Obama” and noted their 'strikingly similar profiles: first-term senators, lawyers and university lecturers, served in part-time state legislatures for eight years, had few legislative accomplishments, and haven’t shown much interest in the process of advancing legislation and getting results.'" "Bush camp disses Rubio as 'GOP Obama'."


Term Limits

"An effort in Tallahassee to propose congressional term limits is getting some national play as a political group showcased it on Monday." "Florida Legislators Propose Article V Convention for Constitutional Amendment on Congressional Term Limits."